Press B to Belong: Using Esports to Promote Inclusive School Communities

Around the world, schools are establishing and expanding esports programs as a way to grapple with issues of school refusal and poor mental health. However, educators are often unsure of how to include players from marginalised backgrounds who often need this support the most. Positioning esports programs as spaces for social inclusion within our schools, Press B to Belong provides educators with practical strategies to remove barriers to participation, promote a sense of belonging for students with disabilities and neurological differences, and bring about a cultural shift in our educational settings.

Presenting a series of case studies on successful esports programs operating in schools today, chapters examine a number of labels of difference and focus on creating supportive environments that allow people with intersecting identities to feel safe, welcome, and included in their local esports program. Recognising that esports present unique opportunities for examining gamer identity, the authors offer tools for promoting of gender inclusivity and using esports as a space for supporting players with disability and cultural diversity.

Aligning research with lived experience, Press B to Belong equips teachers, allied health professionals, and school support staff with the language and steps to use esports to address a range of needs, celebrate intersecting identities, and make school a place where all students want to be.

Matthew Harrison is Senior Lecturer and researcher in inclusive education and digital technologies, as well as an experienced schoolteacher.

Jess Rowlings has lived experience of neurodivergence and is a researcher at the University of Melbourne, qualified speech pathologist, and CEO and co-founder of the social enterprise Next Level Collaboration.

Daniel Aivaliotis-Martinez is Chief Operating Officer of The FUSE Cup, Australia’s largest school-based esports organisation.